Hugh M. Neil

Hugh M. Neil, Ed. D was born November 16, 1930 in Amsterdam, NY and grew up in Johnston, NY. He studied Art at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, his B.S. in Art Education at Buffalo State College, and both a Master and Doctor of Education degrees at SUNY Buffalo. In Buffalo, Neil studied under the artist Peter Busa, a student of Hans Hoffman. Neil worked at SUNY College Buffalo, NY, as a Professor of Art Education for 36 years. His work was shown in exhibitions at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Burchfield Penney Art Center which owns two of his works.

Obituary: Hugh M. March 26, 2020, born November 16, 1930 in Amsterdam, NY. Grew up in Johnston, NY and graduated from Johnstown High School. During high school, he ran the 100- and 200-yard dash, undefeated in both, in his senior year. He held the 220-yard dash record for 14 years. While in the Air force, he ran on a military team out of Francis F. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming and ran the 220 meters in the time of 20.5, at that time, just two tenths of a second off Jessie Owens’ 1936 World Record. He studied Art at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY; continuing on in education, Dr. Neil received a B.S. in Art Education at Buffalo State College, a Ed. M. as well as Ed. D. at SUNY Buffalo. He also served in the United States Marine Corp, from 1947-1949, was in the United States Air Force Security Service from 1949-1953, as well as serving overseas duty during the Korean War in 1952-1953. He worked at SUNY College Buffalo, NY, as a Professor of Art Education for 36 years, previous to that he was at the Stockbridge Valley Central School district in Munnsville, NY for 5 1/2 years. In 1954 he married Sandra Dopp from Rural Grove, NY. He enjoyed 60 years of marriage to Sandra until her death in 2015. They had one daughter, Kelly Neil Shantz Byreiter of Plant City, Florida; and two grandchildren, Ryan Neil Shantz of Akron and Diana Elaine Shantz, of Clarence. Service Private.